ACC Niet elke klacht hoort in de GGZ waarom coaching een onmisbare schakel is

Not Every Complaint Belongs in the GGZ: The Role of Coaching

7 January 2026

Pressure on the specialist mental health services – the Dutch GGZ (specialised mental health care) – has been mounting for quite some time. Waiting lists are growing, professionals are under strain, and clients often have to wait months before receiving appropriate support. One key reason for this is that increasing numbers of people with mild to moderate mental health issues are ending up in the GGZ, even though these issues can often be addressed more quickly and effectively elsewhere. This is also reflected in a recent NU.nl article (article in Dutch), based on insights from the sector organisation De Nederlandse ggz.

As a training institute for coaches and counsellors, we recognise this development clearly – not only because it places a burden on the GGZ, but because it highlights the growing demand for accessible, preventative and human-centred support. Coaching and counselling can play a vital role in this.

The GGZ as the ‘first stop’

According to De Nederlandse ggz, the GGZ increasingly acts as the first port of call for people experiencing stress, low mood, sleep problems, loneliness or performance pressure. These complaints are understandable in a society where expectations are high, social networks are shrinking, and life seems to move ever faster. Yet they do not always require specialist mental health care.

In the article, GGZ organisation Arkin highlights the importance of timely and appropriate support, ideally as early as possible. The sooner issues are identified and addressed, the more manageable they often are. At the same time, this also suggests that not every request for help needs to result in a treatment trajectory within the GGZ. Sometimes guidance, reflection and practical support are enough to help someone regain balance.

Prevention and early support

Public debate often focuses on schools, universities and employers as places where preventative action can be taken – for example through mental health education, open drop-in hours or anonymous online support. These are valuable initiatives. At the same time, we see as a training institute that the role of individual coaches and counsellors in this field is equally important.

Not everyone seeks support through school or work. Many people walk around with questions or complaints that they prefer to discuss one-to-one, away from their immediate environment. An independent coach or counsellor can provide a safe, accessible and confidential space for this. These professionals can help clarify complaints, recognise patterns, and explore what someone truly needs.

Uncovering underlying causes

Another important point – also noted by GGZ organisation Dimence – is that psychological complaints often stem from underlying problems. Debt, relationship tensions, work pressure, loss or questions about meaning and purpose can present as depressive or anxiety symptoms. If only the symptoms are treated without attention to context, there is a risk that the core of the problem remains unaddressed.

Coaches and counsellors are trained to take a broad perspective. Together with the client, they explore what is happening in their life as a whole. Through exploratory conversations, targeted questions and practical exercises, clients gain insights and space for change. In many cases, psychological complaints decrease as a result – sometimes to the extent that further care is no longer necessary.

Building resilience instead of medicalising

Another key theme from the article is resilience. Arkin notes that people increasingly struggle to cope with setbacks that are simply part of life. Sadness, disappointment, stress or grief are more quickly labelled as problematic, even though they are intrinsic to being human. This does not mean people must face these alone, but it does mean that guidance can sometimes focus more on coping with such experiences rather than medicalising them immediately.

Coaching and counselling align with this approach seamlessly. They help people develop skills such as self-reflection, emotional regulation, setting boundaries and strengthening social relationships. Attention to lifestyle – such as exercise, sleep and balancing effort with rest – also plays a role. This contributes to sustainable mental health and prevents mild complaints from escalating.

The importance of training and professionalism

It is crucial that coaches and counsellors are well trained. Working with people and their mental wellbeing requires knowledge, ethics and self-reflection. In our Coaching and Counselling programmes, we train professionals who take this responsibility seriously.

Our programmes offer a solid foundation in conversation techniques, psychology, and coaching and counselling skills. Students learn not only how to guide clients effectively, but also when it is important to refer to other professionals or services. Well-trained coaches therefore contribute to a healthy care landscape in which collaboration and clear boundaries are central.

Coaching as a link in the care landscape

Coaches and counsellors do not replace the GGZ – nor should they. Their strength lies in complementing other forms of care. They form an important link between self-reliance, informal support and specialist treatment. By supporting people early on, they can reduce pressure on the GGZ and simultaneously improve the quality of support available.

Coaches also help increase awareness: people learn that there are more options than simply “put up with it” or “go to the GGZ”. Sometimes a conversation with a coach, a short course or joining a group is enough to regain perspective.

Investing in the future of mental health

As a training institute, we believe that the future of mental health lies in a broad approach: prevention, early identification, accessible guidance and specialist care where needed. By investing in the training of coaches and counsellors, we invest in resilient individuals and a more accessible care system.

Not every complaint belongs in the GGZ. But every request for help deserves attention, to be taken seriously, and to receive the appropriate form of support. Well-trained coaches and counsellors can make that difference – today and in the future.